Rejecting LiberalismSS 30-1 Chapter 5

“Communism is a classless society in which all people share in the production of goods...” Karl Marx

Communism:Rejecting Liberalism

Communism differs from democratic socialism in

that communism promotes revolutionary rather than

gradual change.

Contrasting CommunistsThere are different forms of communism. Past communist leaders have governed through their own interpretation of Marx :Marxism-Leninism:Early, revolutionary USSR, under Lenin.Stalinism:Absolute control through fear & oppression.Maoism: China’s interpretation of communism under

Emperor Mao.

Communism

Political Ideas Economi

c Ideas

Social Ideas

-Workers overthrow the wealthy.-The Communist Party will govern in the interest of all.-Less hierarchy in gov’t.-Collective gov’t will better represent the people.

-Collective ownership of the means of production (land, resources, capital.)-No Private Property.-Incomes are equalized.

-Society is classless.-Women will have equal rights.-Cooperation not competition.

Czar Alexander II (1818-1881)

Russia wasn’t able to take full advantage of the Industrial Revolution b/c it lacked ice free water routes to important markets. It also lagged behind other industrial countries because it was mostly made up of subsistence agriculture.

Alexander II introduced a series of liberal reforms to help the

economy.

Alexander IILiberal Reforms for Russia- Freed the serfs who were

like slaves to wealthy landowners.

- Abolished capital punishment.

- Created local gov’ts with representatives from all classes who had input on things like taxation and education.

Some felt Alexander did not go far enough.A number of revolutionary socialist groups

formed in an effort to assassinate Alexander II and after

several attempts they got him in 1881.

The Rise of Socialism in Russia

Russia’s industrial growth advanced for a short period of

time as foreign investors looked for opportunities in Russia. Rapid growth led to the same issues that

were seen in industrial Europe… Widening of the income gap, the rich getting richer off the backs of the poor, and the poor quality of life of the working class.

The Socialist Democratic Labour Party (SDLP 1898)

This was a group of Marxist socialists who wanted

revolutionary change for Russia. They were inspired by the

writings of Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto.

Czar Nicholas II banned the group and many were forced

to exile. They did pass along their message through an

underground newspaper.

Key figures of the group included Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin.

Growing Socialist UnrestNicholas II was seen as

not doing enough to end the suffering of the poor. In January of 1905, people gathered at the palace

to protest. The Czar’s

guards opened fire…

Bloody Sunday. This event inspired revolt around the country.

The First Stage of Russia’s RevolutionOctober 1905

In October 1905, the St Petersburg Soviet Council was formed. It pushed Nicholas to sign the October Manifesto allowing the formation of political parties as well as giving certain rights to the people.

The popularity of socialism grew among Russians.

1917The Russian Revolution took off in 1917 in the

last stages of WWI. Nicholas was assassinated

and a provisional government under Kerensky was set up. This was a liberal democratic government that struggled to have real power in Russia.

End P1

LeninThe Bolshevik PartyVladimir Lenin gained political

popularity with the people. He wanted Russia

out of WWI and wanted government to

focus on meeting the needs of the people.

Lenin and Leon Trotsky successfully

established a new Marxist style of government which later became

known as Leninism.

Red TerrorAn assassination attempt on Lenin

resulted in a crack down on political

enemies. Many were tortured and executed. Civil

war erupted.

USSR1922

Order was re-established and The Union of

Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was

formed. Lenin was the leader.

USSR1922: The People’s Republic

Land was redistributed to the people. Factories were turned over to the workers.Both men and women were considered equal.

The poor and working classes had more power than they had ever

known.

1924: Lenin dies of a stroke. Russia would experience a new form of

communism under Stalin.

Joseph StalinAfter Lenin’s death, a struggle for power took place b/w Trotsky and Stalin. Trotsky’s political beliefs were similar to Lenin’s.

By 1928, Stalin emerged as the new leader of USSR. Stalin had Trotsky exiled and assassinated.

StalinismStalin’s interpretation of Marxist ideas included himself as an absolute ruler. His policies usually involved fear and oppression rather than revolution and freedom. He rejected all liberal values. He turned USSR into a dictatorship. Millions would die under his rule.

Stalin PoliciesCreated Gulags (Prison camps)

for those who opposed him.Secret police used to control the

people by terror.Rewriting of history to display a

state view of Russian history.Private farms taken by force for

collective use.

HolodomorPlanned famine to suppress Ukrainian opposition

1932-33 Ukraine experienced a drought.

Stalin with held grain supplies in what is

now considered to be a planned famine.

Somewhere b/w 7 & 10 million starved. The

government recognizes Holodomor as an

act of genocide. Stalin did this to ruthlessly

crush opposition from the state.

End P2

Rejecting LiberalismPolitical Ideas- Cult of the leader and elite rule.- Extreme nationalism.- Organized violence and military force.- Territorial expansion as national interestEconomic Ideas

-Government directed private enterprise economy to serve the needs of the state.- Anti-union and anti-workers’ rights.

Social Ideas- Inequalities b/w individuals & groups.- Racial purity.-Racial/national superiority.-National strength more important than individuals.

Nazi Fascis

m

Fascism rejects some parts of liberalism:- Against democracy & individual rights.- Rejected liberal political ideas.

Fascism rejects some parts of communism:- Against egalitarianism and empowerment of the

working class.- Rejected communist economic ideas.

Fascism became popular in Germany & Italy after WWI. Fascists saw liberal governments as weak, unstable and unable to solve social, economic and political problems.Fascists believe in domination of their state over others.They are aware of ethnic & cultural differences.Domination of other peoples through discipline, obedience and the creation of an all powerful state.

Charles Darwin: (1809-82)Proposed theories on animal evolution through

the survival of the fittest.

Social DarwinismSome thought his ideas applied to societies, cultures and

races. This is where Social Darwinism comes from. Groups achieve

power and affluence over others because they are naturally

stronger. Governments who interfere with this are disrupting the

natural order of life. Natural inequalities exist among peoples.

EugenicsThe improvement of the human species through

selective breeding or genocide.

Fascists of the time used these ideas to justify their policies of discrimination and violence against undesirable groups in society… (people with illnesses, mental or physical disabilities, etc.)

Fascists wanting to strengthen their nation state used the theory “survival of the fittest” to go after other countries. They believed that there was a struggle of survival b/w cultures.

Fascism in GermanyGermany was charged as the aggressors at the end of WWI. The Treaty of Versailles was very punitive

in its treatment of Germany.

- They lost territory including lucrative colonies in Africa.- Fined $4.5 Billion US to pay for damages in Europe which had to be

paid quickly. - Charged another $18 Billion with interest after the 1st fine was paid

off.

Germany never paid it back…

The Great DepressionGermany was slowly being crushed by all it had lost. It

didn’t have the means to take care of those who suffered b/c of WWI.

Many people starved. The German government started printed off

money in large numbers causing hyperinflation. Their money became worthless. Unemployment went through the roof. Then the world was hit by the Great Depression. Things worsened b/c of protectionism.

The Nazis:The National Socialist German Workers Party

Economic chaos led to political chaos in Germany. Political parties formed wanting change… including the Nazi Party.

Economic & political change was needed but the people did not want revolutionary communism. Those who lost entire life savings were

open to ideasthat rejected liberalism by the 1920’s.

The Rise of HitlerHitler established himself as a leader among the members of the Nazi Party in the 1920’s. He convinced the members that they needed to seize power by force. He was arrested and jailed after a radical stunt he pulled in a beer hall. He stood on a table and called for the people to rise against the existing government. While in jail he wrote, “Mein Kampf”, which outlined his fascist vision for a new Germany.

The Nazi Party gained in popularity as Hitler promised a return to

greatness. He found scapegoats to blame Germany’s failures and used his

charisma to win over the public.

Hitler did what he could to make people fearful of rival political parties through lies and propaganda. He focused hatred and blame against minorities. He used fear tactics at every opportunity to gain popularity and support.

Hitler in PowerIt wasn’t long before Hitler was elected as

chancellor. A short time after that, the Nazis had control of

parliament. Hitler passed the Enabling Act which basically

wiped out all opposition parties in Germany. Germany became

a dictatorship, and Hitler was in absolute control.

Hitler the DictatorHitler manipulated his people to buy into his

fascist ideas through a number of things:• Propaganda• Youth groups• Elimination of opposition (Enabling Act)• Using fear, terror and force on his own

people.• Blamed nation’s failures on the Jews,

communists, and the former government… scapegoating

Rejecting LiberalismHitler persuaded his people to

reject liberal values and took away the rights of

the people that didn’t fit into his vision

of a strong Germany.

Jews were Hitler’s main target of blame. He detailed his

hatred of Jews in Mein Kampf and ruthlessly persecuted them throughout WWII.

Nuremberg LawsHitler passed these laws in 1935 which focus

on the persecution of the Jews as well as the preservation of the “Master Race”, Aryan Germans. "I am the greatest pig in

town - I have affairs with Jews only." This scene,

organized for the press in Hamburg in 1935,

appeared in all German newspapers. The man's sign says: "I only take

German girls to my room." The Nuremberg laws of

1935 criminalized sexual relations between Jews

and "Aryans."

Night of the Broken GlassA German solder was assassinated by a 17 yr old Jewish

boy during Germany’s occupation of Paris, France. This action sparked

riots throughout Germany.

Germans went on a killing rampage chasing after Jews and Jewish

supporters. Many were beaten and killed. 30,000 were sent to

concentration camps… this became known as the Holocaust.

Over 6 million Jews would be victimized before the end on WWII.

Nazism rejected the political beliefs of

liberalism by creating a dictatorship that

limited people’s freedoms.

Individuals were not valued unless they

were serving the state. Fin